Hero of the Week: Bruce Springsteen

Down-to-Earth Icon Gives Onstage Tribute to Fallen HS Grid Star

American music icon Bruce Springsteen's onstage tribute to 16-year-old Ward Cox, a high school football player from Galveston who died tragically in a swimming accident, according to an article written by Ken Hoffman of the Houston Chronicle.

Ward Cox was a popular kid; more than 2,500 people attended his funeral.

Springsteen, who just yesterday learned of the death of one of his best friends and band mates, Danny Federici, has always taken time out to concern himself with families and people in need.  

In this case, the family of the fallen high school football player was invited to Bruce's show last Monday in Houston.

They were surprised when Springsteen played a song he wrote for his deceased best friend, Terry McGovern, for the first time in concert, dedicating it onstage to the memory of Ward Cox.

According to Hoffman, The Boss gave a riveting rendition of this personal song and when it was over, the 59-year-old legend bent down on one knee, faced the floor and lifted his guitar over his head for 20 seconds in complete silence.

After the show, Springsteen spent a half-hour with the Cox family, keeping celebrities and other VIPs waiting in the wings.

Good work, Bruce.  You are a true role model.

You can read the article here:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/5706922.html